If I want to operate a small "recreational drone", I must license it with the FAA, and follow FAA flight path regulations and restrictions. Yet Brandon wants me to believe amateur balloon clubs are operating large slow-moving, unregistered craft at 20K ft to 40K ft elevations - where commercial jets fly. And the FAA knows nothing about their flight paths. Yeah, sure.
If I want to operate a small "recreational drone", I must license it with the FAA, and follow FAA flight path regulations and restrictions. Yet Brandon wants me to believe amateur balloon clubs are operating large slow-moving, unregistered craft at 20K ft to 40K ft elevations - where commercial jets fly. And the FAA knows nothing about their flight paths. Yeah, sure.
When I heard they were shooting down random objects last week my first thought was a few HAM clubs just lost their balloon experiments.
The real question is why are they admitting it.
HAM clubs really do launch a lot of balloons. My local ham club(a very small club) does so 2-4 times a year as a project with local schools.
The intended flight altitude is always above 60k feet because less rules that high, but weather conditions dictate the actual altitude
I think the only thing you need to tell your local FAA office is when you plan to launch.
They aren't usually large objects because bigger = more rules, more gas, more money
The payload for HAMs are usually about 1-2 ounces and the balloons less than 6ft diameter.
Since HAMs are launching it, the balloon always has a very tiny HAM radio that will ping APRS or WSPR both with its current position whenever it can - and that's all these balloons ever do.
Good info ... but the hands-on education and fun these pico balloons provide will no longer be allowed to exist outside the smothering blanket of bureaucratic regulation. Y'all do realize that government owns ALL the land, water, and air that comprise planet earth ... it's only via their beneficence we little people are allowed access to any of it.
If I want to operate a small "recreational drone", I must license it with the FAA, and follow FAA flight path regulations and restrictions. Yet Brandon wants me to believe amateur balloon clubs are operating large slow-moving, unregistered craft at 20K ft to 40K ft elevations - where commercial jets fly. And the FAA knows nothing about their flight paths. Yeah, sure.
My thoughts exactly!
When I heard they were shooting down random objects last week my first thought was a few HAM clubs just lost their balloon experiments.
The real question is why are they admitting it.
HAM clubs really do launch a lot of balloons. My local ham club(a very small club) does so 2-4 times a year as a project with local schools.
The intended flight altitude is always above 60k feet because less rules that high, but weather conditions dictate the actual altitude
I think the only thing you need to tell your local FAA office is when you plan to launch.
They aren't usually large objects because bigger = more rules, more gas, more money
The payload for HAMs are usually about 1-2 ounces and the balloons less than 6ft diameter.
Since HAMs are launching it, the balloon always has a very tiny HAM radio that will ping APRS or WSPR both with its current position whenever it can - and that's all these balloons ever do.
Good info ... but the hands-on education and fun these pico balloons provide will no longer be allowed to exist outside the smothering blanket of bureaucratic regulation. Y'all do realize that government owns ALL the land, water, and air that comprise planet earth ... it's only via their beneficence we little people are allowed access to any of it.
Very interesting!